Farmingdale, N.Y. – Sophomore Elizabeth Limonta (Stewart Manor, N.Y.) came off the bench to lead three players in double-figures as the Mount Saint Mary College Women's Basketball team battled past Farmingdale State by a score of 63-59 on Saturday afternoon.
 
Mount Saint Mary jumped out to an 11-4 lead on a Lyndsay Pace (Cranford, N.J.) triple with 4:21 left in the first quarter and did not fall behind in the opening stanza until a Tyra Harrison three-pointer capped an 8-0 run for the Rams and gave them a 12-11 lead with 2:52 left in the first.
 
The Knights quickly grabbed the lead back on a Jessica Rini (Seaford, N.Y.) jumper and after another Harrison triple got a trey from Pace in the closing seconds of the first frame to give the Knights a 16-15 lead after 10 minutes of action.
 
Neither team scored in the second period until a Limonta bucket at the 7:25 mark that gave the Knights an 18-15 lead. Maite Gritsko (Milford, Conn.) pushed the lead to five points and after the Rams moved in front 22-20, the Knights went into halftime with a 27-22 lead after a quick 7-0 run.
 
The Mount converted at an even 40-percent before halftime and held Farmingdale State to a 21.9-percent effort over the first two quarters. Pace led all players at the break with 10 points, knocking in both of the team's first half three-point field goals.
 
The Mount maintained the lead throughout the second half and jumped in front 37-28 on a Limonta bucket 4:54 into the third frame. Farmingdale State closed to within two points late in the third period, but a 7-2 spurt to close the period capped by a Jordyn Hellpap (Hackensack, N.J.) triple sent the Mount to the fourth quarter with a 47-40 advantage.
 
The Knights' lead reached double-figures for the first time early in the fourth on a Kayla Cleare (West Hempstead, N.Y.) jumper to move them in front 51-40 and the game-high advantage came on a Limonta fast break bucket that gave the Knights a 57-45 lead with 7:07 left to play.
 
The Mount equaled the game-high 12 point lead with 5:06 left in regulation on a pair of Bridget Kelly (Farmington, Conn.) free-throws, before the Rams made a rally and closed the disadvantage to just two points with 1:14 left to play.
 
Kaelyn Ward capped a 12-2 run with a three-pointer to get Farmingdale State to within 61-59, but the Rams would not score again and free-throws from Kelly and Gritsko in the final six seconds secured the win for Mount Saint Mary.
 
Limonta finished the game 6-for-8 from the floor and reached double-figures for the fourth time this season. She added five rebounds and three steals in the win. Pace and Rini each scored 10 points, with Rini adding three assists and a pair of steals.
 
Gritsko led all players in the game with a career-high 11 rebounds, adding seven points and five assists. Cleare added nine rebounds with Kelly closing a solid all-around game with seven points, six rebounds and a game-high four steals.
 
Ward finished with a game-high 16 points for the Rams and led three players in double-figures. She closed a strong game with seven rebounds and five assists.
 
Mount Saint Mary shot 45.1-percent from the floor in the win and outscored Farmingdale State 28-14 in the paint. The Rams were held to 27.9-percent shooting for the game with 11 of their 19 field goals coming from behind the arc.
 
Saturday's win pushes Mount Saint Mary to 17-5 overall on the season and to 13-3 in league play. The Knights will return to action and close the home regular season schedule on Tuesday when they play host to the United States Merchant Marine Academy. Note that tip-off has been moved back 30 minutes to 7:30 p.m.